Tire pressure and parameter monitoring system and method using accelerometers

A method for monitoring an operating condition of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• determining at a first wheel a first acceleration;
• determining a first wheel rotation speed;
• determining the operating condition as a function of at least the first wheel rotation speed and the first acceleration;
• and
• at least one of:
• determining at the first wheel a first temperature by an infrared sensor;
• determining at the center of gravity an inertia;
• and
• determining at a suspension a vertical displacement;
• wherein the operating condition includes at least one of a first tire condition, a first wheel condition, and a first suspension condition.

A device comprising:

• an accelerometer at a wheel of a vehicle for determining an acceleration;
• a wheel rotation speed sensor for determining a rotation speed of the wheel;
• a microprocessor for determining an operating condition as a function of the rotation speed and the acceleration, the microprocessor electrically coupled to the accelerometer and the wheel rotation speed sensor, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of a tire condition, a wheel condition, and a suspension condition;
• and
• at least one of:
• an infrared sensor for determining a temperature at the wheel electrically coupled to the microprocessor;
• an inertial sensor at the center of gravity electrically coupled to the microprocessor;
• and
• a vertical displacement sensor at a suspension system for the wheel electrically coupled to the microprocessor.

A device, comprising:

• an accelerometer at a wheel of a vehicle for determining an acceleration;
• a wheel rotation speed sensor for determining a rotation speed of the wheel;
• a microprocessor for determining an operating condition as a function of the rotation speed and the acceleration, the microprocessor electrically coupled to the accelerometer and the wheel rotation speed sensor, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of a tire condition, a wheel condition, and a suspension condition;
• and
• a storage device electrically coupled to the microprocessor, the storage device for storing at least one of at least one nominal-value resonant frequency and a time-domain model.

A system for monitoring an operating condition of a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one wheel arranged on a corresponding axle, comprising:

• an accelerometer for each wheel of the vehicle, each of the accelerometers situated at an end of the corresponding axle, each of the accelerometers determining an acceleration;
• a wheel rotation speed sensor for each respective wheel of the vehicle, each of the wheel rotation speed sensors situated at the end of the corresponding axle, each of the wheel rotation speed sensors determining a rotation speed for the respective wheel;
• and
• a microprocessor for determining the operating condition electrically coupled to each of the accelerometers and each of the wheel rotation speed sensors, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of a tire condition, a wheel condition, and a suspension condition;
• wherein the accelerometers determine at least one of a longitudinal acceleration, a lateral acceleration, and a vertical acceleration.

A system for monitoring an operating condition of a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one wheel arranged on a corresponding axle, comprising:

• an accelerometer for each wheel of the vehicle, each of the accelerometers situated at an end of the corresponding axle, each of the accelerometers determining an acceleration;
• a wheel rotation speed sensor for each respective wheel of the vehicle, each of the wheel rotation speed sensors situated at the end of the corresponding axle, each of the wheel rotation speed sensors determining a rotation speed for the respective wheel;
• a microprocessor for determining the operating condition electrically coupled to each of the accelerometers and each of the wheel rotation speed sensors, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of a tire condition, a wheel condition, and a suspension condition;
• and
• at least one of:
• an infrared sensor for determining a temperature at each wheel electrically coupled to the microprocessor;
• an inertial sensor at the center of gravity electrically coupled to the microprocessor;
• and
• a vertical displacement sensor at a suspension system for each wheel electrically coupled to the microprocessor.